Friday, March 2, 2018

RSU#14 leads in an Eggcellence School Menu Program by Jennifer Davis

On February 15, 2018, the Windham-Raymond School District Food Services Program, led by Jeanne Reilly, Director of School Nutrition, was named as the “2018 Eggcellence in School Menu-Innovation” Recipient by the American Egg Board.

Throughout the country only 34 schools were nominated for this reward. “We were very surprised to win this award,” stated Reilly. “The American Egg Board had been following our presence on social media and the menu innovations that we highlight on our social media channels, led them to nominate us for this award.”

Healthy Foods Fuels Hungry Minds is the mission statement for the Windham-Raymond Schools Nutrition Program and the highly trained staff believes in and values this mission. They exhibit this every day in their daily activities by making sure all students have access to healthy nutritious foods.

Reilly and her team work to create menus that are interesting with creative names and fun themed events, entertaining facts and delicious recipes, setting them apart from other schools. “We truly believe in social media marketing and we frequently post information and pictures and promotionals about our school meals across 3 social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,” said Reilly. “We are incredibly fortunate to have a chef on staff who works alongside our staff and me - inspiring, training, developing recipes and working with students in the classroom and in after school activities.”

Reilly and her staff serve approximately 1000 breakfasts and 1800 lunches every school day, using approximately 500 or more eggs each week. The eggs are served in various forms including breakfast sandwiches, breakfast pizza, breakfast wraps, scrambled eggs and egg pops from a recent themed event surrounding the Super Bowl.

Reilly has worked for RSU 14 for the past eight years. Last year, she was awarded the Katherine O. Musgrave Public Service Award for her work. It is very clear that Reilly is very passionate about what she does. “Our goal is to ensure that all children have access to healthy breakfast and lunch,” states Reilly. “We offer parents the extra assurance that the meals are fresh, healthy, whole grain and packed with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.”

“As a school system we are egg-cited to share that Windham-Raymond Schools Nutrition Program is in the recipient of this years “Eggcellence in Menu-Innovation Award,” states Sandy Prince, Superintendent RSU 14. “Thank you to the American Egg Board for recognizing Jeanne Reilly’s leadership efforts with providing creative and nutritious meals to all of our students. Jeanne’s vision strikes again whereby she is brilliant with taking a vision and creating the future of ‘greatness’ with RSU 14 School Nutrition Program.”